Brat Fest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brat Fest, which bills itself as "World's Largest Brat Fest", is an annual fundraiser that is held in Madison, Wisconsin.
The event has been held every Memorial Day weekend since 1983, when it was launched by Tom Metcalfe, an area businessman who owned the Hilldale Mall location of Sentry Foods in Madison. The event was initially held in the parking lot in front of the Metcalfe's Sentry store. Bratwurst, hotdogs, soft drinks, and Yves veggie brats are served at the festival. The event was initially intended as a customer appreciation event for people who shopped at Metcalfe's Sentry grocery, but soon evolved into a fundraiser for local charities.[1] Tom Metcalfe's sons, Tim and Kevin, are now coordinators for the event.
[edit] Overview
- Many non-profit groups donate grillers and servers. Local celebrities and politicians volunteer time as servers during the event. Past servers have included Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin.
- 208,752 brats were consumed during the 2009 festivities, which is believed to be a world record for single festival over a 4-day period. In 2010, that number grew even larger, to 209,376[2]
- In 2005, Brat Fest was relocated from its Hilldale Mall location, which had grown too small for the crowds, to Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center.
- For many years, the Brat Fest was held over both the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. After the move to the Willow Island site, organizers decided to hold the event only on Memorial Day weekend, to minimize expenses.[3]
- In 2006, two filmmakers, Benjamin Lamb and Vernon Johnson, created a documentary film honoring Brat Fest. Released on July 15, 2006, the film contained interviews with Governor James Doyle, Brat Fest Organizer Tim Metcalfe, Kevin Metcalfe and the wife of Tom Metcalfe.
- The 2011 Brat Fest will be held Memorial Day Weekend, May 27 through May 30 [2].
- In 2011, donations to the campaigns of Scott Walker by executives and employees of Johnsonville triggered alternative Bratfests as a boycott movement.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ [1] Archived June 13, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Brat Fest Statistics". Brat Fest Website. http://www.bratfest.com/a-celebration/brat-fest-record-stats/.
- ^ Daglas, Cristina. "Brat Fest Organizers Hope For Record Sales At New Site". The Capital Times. http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2005/05/24/0505240338.php. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
- ^ Cullen, Sandy. "Still in protesting mood? Alternative brat fest is in the works". Wisconsin State Journal. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_bd1bd96a-655a-11e0-9c71-001cc4c002e0.html. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
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